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Portrait of Dorris F. Van Doren
Artist - Mario Parra |
Dorris Ferguson Van
Doren was born in San Angelo, Texas in 1923 and was a resident
of El Paso since 1930. She went to Zavala Grade School, El Paso
High School and graduated from Texas Western College (UTEP) with
a Bachelor of Arts in Education. Mrs. Van Doren was an
elementary school teacher for 22 years – teaching reading for
most of that time. She also attended the Perkins School of
Theology at Southern Methodist University and served as a Lay
Minister in the Methodist church.
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Dorris, despite a
lifelong asthmatic condition, led an athletic life –
riding her bicycle through Texas and many parts of the
United States and even rode her Honda motorcycle around
El Paso, up-and-down the Rio Grande River valley, and to
her Cloudcroft, New Mexico cabin (elevation 8700 ft). She was also well traveled
internationally – Scotland, England, Belgium, Holland, France,
Germany, and New Zealand. She rode her bicycle through most of
these countries.
After completing her elementary teaching career, a continuing
passion for adventure, education, and reading led to library
volunteer work. Dorris volunteered at the Westside Library,
which was located in a trailer at the corner of Mesa and Shadow
Mountain. From there, the library relocated to the Westside
Recreation Center. Dorris, along with Janine Spencer and
Virginia Brilliant, started the Westside Friends of the Library
group. Dorris spearheaded the fundraising for the construction
and got the land donated for the Westside Branch Library located
at 125 Belvidere Street. The library opened its doors in 1988.
Dorris F. Van Doren was the only Emeritus member of the El Paso
Public Library Board Association. Through her volunteer efforts,
the El Paso Public Library gained recognition throughout the
community. |
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